Propagation

of
Light
 However, it cannot explain wave-like
phenomenon such as diffraction and
interference. On the other hand, the wave
theory cannot explain why photons fly
out of metal that is exposed to light
(known as the photoelectric effect) 4
which was discovered at the end of the
Newton concluded in 1700 19th century.
that light was a group of
particles.
Light travels in a straight line
so Newton believed that it
was a flow of particles
coming from a light source.
 Rene Descartes
Was the first who studied and explained
the concept of refraction. He used a spherical
glass filled with water and sunlight to produce
a rainbow. He explained that refraction brought
about the formation of rainbows. He then used
a prism to observe the emergence of colors of
light.
Isaac Newton
Also studied the emergence of colors of light
through a prism. He stated that the difference in
refraction was due to the differences in the mass of the
colors of light. Particles of matter also exert equal
force to the particles of light. The colors of light with
different mass and inertia will be deflected at varying
degrees. 6 When they passed through an interface of
matter, light particles with great mass and inertia are
deflected less when acted upon by the same force of
matter.
 Reflection and Refraction of Light

When light reaches an object, different things can

happen: it can be absorbed, reflected or transmitted
through the object.

Reflection and refraction are phenomena that are

well-explained by the behaviors of light. When a
source emits light, its dual property can be
observed in different circumstances.
 Dual Property of Light (A Wave and a Particle)
Light can behave both as a wave and as a particle.
As particles
• They travel in straight lines, thus,
producing shadows when they hit an
obstruction.
• It is also the reason why light bounces
off or reflects off of mirrors.
As waves
• It has the ability to diffract or bend
around an object.
• Refraction is also brought about by light
particles when they traverse through
media or materials of different
refractive indices.
• Refraction happens when light waves
change direction as they travel through
materials of different refractive indices,
say water and air.
 Reflection and Refraction of Light
The reflection of light is an optical phenomenon of enormous importance – if
light were not reflected by your eyes by objects around us, we couldn’t see them
all. Reflection involves at absorption and re-emission of light by means of
complex electromagnetic vibrations in the atoms of the reflecting medium.
 Reflection and Refraction of Light
When a ray of light travelling through a transparent medium encounters a
boundary leading into another transparent medium, part of the energy is reflected
and part enters the second medium. The ray that enters the second medium is
bent at the boundary and is said to be refracted.
 Reflection and Refraction of Light

Light, as waves, spread in all directions when emitted. Upon impacting a

smooth, specular surface, such as a mirror, these waves bounce off or reflect
according to the arrival angles. The waves turn back to front as they reflect
producing a reversed image.

On the other hand, light can also arrive at the mirror surface as a stream of
particles. Since these are very tiny, a huge number are involved in a propagating
light beam. Upon arriving a smooth surface, the particles bounce off in different
points so their order in the beam is reversed resulting to a reversed image.
Reflection and Refraction of Light
 Reflection and Refraction of Light

Reflection produces different types of images depending on what kind of surface

light strikes on. Usually, the study on images is carried out using mirrors as the
reflecting surface. Mirrors can be planar, concave, or convex.

Plane mirrors consist of perfectly flat surface with no distortions and reflect 100%
of the light that strikes them back at a predictable angle.
 Concave and Convex Mirrors
Plane mirrors consist of perfectly flat surface with
no distortions and reflect 100% of the light that
strikes them back at a predictable angle.

Concave and convex mirrors have reflective

surfaces that curve inward and outward,
respectively.

Concave mirrors are known as converging mirrors

because light is focused at a point as it strikes and
reflects back from the reflecting surface.

Convex mirrors are diverging mirrors because as

light strikes and bounces back it spreads over a
required region.
 Concave Mirror
Concave mirrors form both real and virtual images. When the concave mirror is
placed very close to the object, a virtual and magnified image is obtained, and if
we increase the distance between the object and the mirror, the size of the image
reduces and real images are formed.
The image formed is real, and diminished in size when the object is very far from
the concave mirror.
 Convex Mirror
Convex mirrors always produce images that are located
behind the mirror, virtual, upright, and reduced in size.

The reflective surface bulges outward, resulting in a

wider field of view.

Commonly used in car side mirrors to provide a wider

view of the surroundings.
 Propagation of Lights

Light travels through space.

Light typically travels in straight lines in a vacuum or through a uniform medium.

This principle is described by the law of rectilinear propagation.

In a vacuum, light travels at a constant speed of approximately 299,792 kilometers

per second (186,282 miles per second). The speed may change when light passes
through different mediums.

The speed of light is influenced by the medium through which it travels. It slows
down when passing through denser mediums like glass or water.
 Propagation of Lights
Light travels through space.
In a vacuum, light travels at a
constant speed of approximately
299,792 kilometers per second
(186,282 miles per second). The
speed may change when light
passes through different mediums.
Light typically travels in straight lines in
a vacuum or through a uniform medium.
This principle is described by the law of
rectilinear propagation.
The speed of light is influenced by the
medium through which it travels. It
slows down when passing through
denser mediums like glass or water.
 Wavelengths and Color

Light consists of different colors with varying wavelengths. When light

passes through a medium, its different colors may be refracted by
different amounts, leading to the separation of colors, as seen in a
prism.
In summary, the propagation of light involves its transmission through
various mediums, interaction with surfaces through reflection and
refraction, and the phenomena of absorption, scattering, and color
dispersion. Understanding light propagation is essential for explaining a
wide range of optical phenomena in our daily experiences.